Homelessness: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 19 December 2013, Official Report, column 714W, on homelessness: Greater London, what use his Department makes of the statistical return provided to his Department by local authorities in London on the number of homeless families placed out of borough.

Kris Hopkins: Data provided by local authorities are published online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness
	See Live Table 775 for national figures on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation in another local authority district. See ‘Detailed local authority level homelessness figures’ for quarterly data for each local authority.
	The quarterly statistical release ‘Statutory Homelessness in England’ available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics
	provides commentary on these data.
	This Government has invested £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness over the spending review period. The homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.
	No council should be sending tenants en masse to a different part of the country— the law is clear that councils have a responsibility to take into account people’s jobs and schools when securing homes for those in need. And we have given them more power to provide families with suitable, settled accommodation in the private rented sector to avoid long waits in temporary accommodation. Indeed the average stay in temporary accommodation in England has been reduced from 20 months at the beginning of 2010 to 14 months now. The Government has also made £445 million of Discretionary Housing Payments available to local authorities to ease the transition across the welfare reforms in this Spending Review. We expect them to use these effectively to help households who have particular needs to stay, and to give short-term help, for example, through school exams.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many reports on equality information and objectives each category of public authority has published under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 in each year since the regulations came into force; and what the cost of producing those reports was for each category of public authority in each such year;
	(2)  how many public authorities in each category of public authority published equality information and objectives under the Equality Act (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 in each year since they came into force.

Edward Vaizey: The specific information requested is not collected or held centrally.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), an independent statutory body, is responsible for the enforcement, monitoring and assessment of how public bodies comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and specific duties. The EHRC has published two reports to date which look at the performance of public bodies in England under the PSED and specific duties:
	‘Publishing equality information: Commitment, engagement and transparency’ was published in December 2012. This report looked at how public authorities had performed with regard to the first specific duty (publication of equality information). Data for this assessment was collected between February and April 2012 and covered 1,159 public authorities in England. The report indicated that about half of the public authorities reviewed were publishing equality information on their workforce and service users by April 2012. Many more (78%) were publishing information on either their staff or their service users.
	‘Assessment of the publication of equality objectives by English public authorities’ was published in Autumn 2013. This report sets out the findings of an assessment of how public authorities in England are publishing equality objectives. Data for the assessment was collected between September and December 2012 and covered 2,010 public authorities.
	These reports do not estimate the associated costs of producing and publishing equalities information.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide that the freeze dates for population size for boundary reviews and the census be in the same year.

Greg Clark: The Government has no plans to do so. Using population figures derived from census data would not provide a better basis for a review of constituency boundaries than using the electoral register.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to disseminate the lessons learned from the data mining pilots for the introduction of individual electoral registrations; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Government published its results in March 2012 and July 2013 and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60723/FINAL-Data-Matching-Evaluation-Report-new.pdf
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223850/Data_Mining_Evaluation_FULL_Report_FINAL.pdf
	The Electoral Commission also produced their assessment of the pilots. Their reports can be found at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/162106/Data-mining-pilot-evaluation-report.pdf
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/146836/Data-matching-pilot-evaluation.pdf

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 443W, on electoral register, what the results were of his Department’s cooperation with data holding organisations on datasets that can be used to ensure completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Greg Clark: The Government published the results of its pilots in March 2012 and July 2013 and are publically available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60723/FINAL-Data-Matching-Evaluation-Report-new.pdf
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223850/Data_Mining_Evaluation_FULL_Report_FINAL.pdf

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 387W, on electoral register, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of gathering and holding information on the proportion of attainers who are registered to vote; and what assessment he has made of the usefulness of such information for improving the introduction of individual electoral registration.

Greg Clark: The Government has made no such estimate or assessment.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 623W, on electoral register, what steps he has taken to improve student registration in the run up to individual electoral registration.

Greg Clark: The Government is working with the Higher Education sector to maximise the registration of students.
	Measures include provision of data from the universities to the EROs to help them contact students individually and promoting the use of online registration, when it becomes available, particularly during course enrolment.
	The Government has produced guidance for university registrars to help them implement these steps before the start of the 2014/15 academic year when students will register under Individual Electoral Registration.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date of commissioning, (c) date of polling and (d) cost of polling commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters from (i) Ipsos-MORI and (ii) other opinion survey companies since May 2011;
	(2)  if he will publish the (a) scope, (b) date and (c) cost of contracts for public relations services commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department from (i) Engine Partners and (ii) other public affairs and public relations consultancies since May 2011;
	(3)  if he will publish the findings of all market research on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters commissioned by the Devolution Team in his Department since May 2011;
	(4)  what plans his Department has to commission polling on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters before 18 September 2014; and what the (a) scope and (b) value of each such contract is.

Greg Clark: The UK Government regularly commissions independent research to inform and evaluate major policy programmes. Cabinet Office has contracted Ipsos MORI for the purposes of providing market research in relation to the Scotland Analysis Programme. Two formal tenders for this research were issued in March and August 2013 respectively and, as with other tenders for Government contracts, these processes were managed by the Government Procurement Service (now part of the Crown Commercial Service).
	Cabinet Office has also contracted Engine Partners LLP for the purposes of providing communications support work in relation to the Scottish independence referendum. A formal tender for this work was issued in September 2013 and was managed by the Government Procurement Service.
	As part of the Government’s commitment to transparency in expenditure information relating to the costs of both sets of work is publicly available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data

Cycling

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last meeting of (a) the Cycle Stakeholders Forum and (b) the safety sub-group of the Cycle Stakeholders Forum took place; and what future meetings are scheduled.

Robert Goodwill: The most recent meeting of the full Cycling Stakeholder Forum was on 30 September 2013 and that of the safety sub-group was on 16 July 2013. The next meeting of the full Cycling Stakeholder Forum is scheduled for 24 June 2014. I am chair of the High Level Cycling Group, a sub-group of Cycling Stakeholder Forum that meets frequently. The most recent meeting of the High Level Cycling Group was 21 May 2014.

Driving Under Influence: Drugs

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with external stakeholders on planned communications regarding the new drug driving offence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 760W, on driving under influence: drugs, what the proposed timetable is for the steps his Department proposes to take to communicate the new drug driving offence.

Robert Goodwill: Officials working on the new drug driving legislation meet regularly with stakeholders from both the law enforcement and health care sectors. These meetings include discussions on how the new offence will be communicated.
	The medical profession has assisted the Department in developing guidance to health care professionals to use in discussion with their patients. We expect to publish the guidance later in the summer and will circulate it to the medical profession. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently working with pharmaceutical companies to update the product information of those medicines implicated by the new legislation. MHRA also expect to issue a ‘Drug Safety Update’ article later in the summer to include details about the new offence for health care professionals. This will be accompanied by an article for patients. MHRA also work closely with the British National Formulary to update the prescribing information for medicines as new safety information emerges and will ensure this new information is brought to their attention. The Think! campaign is in the process of being developed but we expect to start informing the public about the new offence just prior to its introduction followed be a more concentrated campaign on its introduction.

Pedestrian Crossings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in reviewing the adequacy of the amount of time allowed for pedestrians to use pedestrian crossings including those crossings out of the scope of the consultation on the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

Robert Goodwill: Local councils are responsible for setting pedestrian crossing timings with reference to the Department for Transport's guidance walking speed of 1.2 metres per second.
	The Department is conducting a review of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, which includes all pedestrian crossing types, and once that is complete will consider the need to update the guidance.

Average Earnings: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of average net weekly household income in the City of York council area in each year since 2004-05 in (i) cash terms and (ii) at current prices.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Joe Grice
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of average net weekly household income in the City of York Council area in each year since 2004-05 in (i) cash terms and (ii) at current prices. (198534)
	Table 1 shows the average net weekly equivalised household income for the City of York Council and York Central constituency areas, both before and after housing costs for the years 2004/05 to 2007/08, the latest period for which data are available, in cash terms and 2013 prices. These figures are based on small area income estimates published by the ONS. The data in the table have been adjusted to 2013 prices, the latest available, using the implied expenditure deflator for the household sector.
	These estimates, as with any involving sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	The next year for which ONS small area income estimates will be available will be 2011/12. The release date for these statistics has not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated that they will be released in January 2015.
	
		
			 Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised household income in the City of York Council and York Central parliamentary constituency areas, 2004-05 and 2007-081,2 
			 £ per week 
			  City of York council York Central parliamentary constituency 
			  Mean income (before housing costs)3 Mean income (after housing costs)3 Mean income (before housing costs)3 Mean income (after housing costs)3 
			 (A) In cash terms     
			 2004-05 410 380 390 350 
			 2007-08 480 400 460 370 
			      
			 (B) In 2013 prices     
			 2004-05 520 480 500 450 
			 2007-08 570 470 540 430 
			 1 Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, national insurance contributions and council tax. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest £10. 3 Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether (a) the Prime Minister or (b) officials in his Office have ever advised the National Farmers' Union not to communicate with journalists during the commencement phase of the pilot badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire in 2013;
	(2)  what meetings his Department had with the National Farmers' Union in the six months before the start of the pilot badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset in 2013; and whether he advised that union to operate a media blackout during the first phase of the culls;
	(3)  what meetings (a) the Prime Minister and (b) officials in his Office had with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) on the pilot badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset in 2013; what advice he has given to the NFU on communications with the media during the commencement of the culls; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: Meetings were held with the National Farmers Union in the six months prior to the start of the pilot culls in 2013.
	There was no media blackout during the pilots. DEFRA and the National Farmers Union continued to make spokespeople available to talk to the media throughout the period in which culling was taking place.
	However, both the National Farmers Union and DEFRA were always clear that operational information that could compromise the effectiveness of the cull or the safety of those involved would not be disclosed during the operation.

Energy: Waste

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) refuse-derived fuel and (b) solid recovered fuel produced in the UK exported annually for use in energy from waste plants overseas.

Dan Rogerson: In 2012 (the most recent year for which definitive figures are available), 977,452 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel and 7,783 tonnes of solid recovered fuel were exported from England and Wales for use in energy from waste plants. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland is collected separately and falls under the responsibility of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive respectively.

Livestock: Transport

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to check all lorries containing live animals for export at UK ports.

George Eustice: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) takes a risk-based approach to vehicle inspection in relation to exports of livestock for slaughter. The Government has no plans to change this approach.

Water: EU Law

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what basic measures his Department takes in relation to (a) controls on abstraction and (b) prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources in order to comply with Article 11.3 of the Water Framework Directive.

Dan Rogerson: Controls on water abstraction are applied through the licensing system operated by the Environment Agency, which sets out prior authorisation and control of water abstractions and impoundments.
	Measures to prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources include:
	i. Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These make it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a water discharge activity or groundwater activity, except under, and to the extent authorised by, an environmental permit. The Environment Agency regulates discharges under the environmental permitting regime. It can carry out works itself to rectify activities causing pollution, or issue anti-pollution works notices to require work to take place to prevent, remedy or prohibit pollution, as well as prosecuting offenders if pollution does take place;
	ii. the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008, which aim to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution and the risk of further such pollution occurring. The regulations implement the Nitrates directive, and apply within designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (57% of England);
	iii. the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 2010, which set standards for storing silage, livestock slurry and agricultural fuel oil to minimise the risk of water pollution. These are applicable nationally; and
	iv. cross-compliance requirements for those farmers claiming direct payments and those participating in various rural development schemes.

Boilers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to encourage households off the mains gas grid to use condensing boilers.

Michael Fallon: The Government fully recognises that Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and oil, like other fossil fuels, will continue to play a part in the UK’s energy mix, while the way we heat our homes changes. DECC has introduced the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme to support renewable heating systems. The domestic RHI is targeted predominately at off gas-grid households, by compensating for the additional costs faced when replacing an oil boiler with a renewable heating system. New incentives for oil and LPG boilers would undermine the balance struck in the design of the RHI, and potentially cause confusion for consumers.
	The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) will continue to support oil and LPG condensing boilers for low income and vulnerable households. By February this year around 320,000 households were helped under ECO. We are making changes to ECO to provide a greater incentive for targeting measures at off-gas grid households.

Conditions of Employment

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK which bar any additional employment.

Jennifer Willott: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not collected any quantitative information on the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK which bar any additional employment. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggested, in its report ‘Zero Hours Contracts: Myth and reality’ that 9% of workers on zero hours contracts reported that they were never allowed to work for another employer when their primary employer had no work for them.

New Businesses: Disability

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance is available to disabled people who wish to start their own businesses.

Matthew Hancock: We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for all people setting up and growing a business, including disabled people.
	The website:
	www.gov.uk/business
	is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Business Finance and Support Finder;' that can provide a customised source of Government backed support and finance for business. The website:
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.
	In addition to online support, the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 19 loans worth a total of £53,855 have been drawn down in Kilmarnock and Loudoun to date.
	Finally, the New Enterprise Allowance helps people claiming certain out of work benefits to start up their own business. As of March 2014, 7,420 disabled people (or a total of 40,420) had started a new business with the help of the NEA.

Students: Loans

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider changing student loan payments from three termly instalments to monthly instalments; and what steps his Department has taken to help students learn to budget.

David Willetts: The Government is not currently intending to change student loan payments from three termly instalments to monthly instalments. Payments of living costs support for full-time students in higher education at the start of each term give students the flexibility to meet up-front costs such as accommodation costs.
	Advice on effective budgeting is available through the BIS Student Finance Tour where recent graduates share their personal experience with prospective students on how to manage their living costs spending while at university. Around 120,000 prospective students attended the Tour in 2013, and the aim is to increase this number to 140,000 in 2014. Budgeting advice is also available through university student support services including the Money Doctors Initiative. Additional resources are available through the National Union of Students and the National Association of Student Money Advisers.

Air Force

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 29 April 2014, Official Report, column 636W, on the Air Force, 
	(1)  whether any such UK personnel are embedded or otherwise interact with the (a) 22nd, (b) 30th, (c) 867th and (d) 732nd Air Force Reconnaissance Squadrons;
	(2)  whether any such UK personnel are embedded or otherwise interact with the US Air Force's 17th Reconnaissance Squadron.

Mark Francois: 732nd is an Operations Group which comprises four Reconnaissance Squadron's—17th, 22nd, 30th and 867th. No UK Remotely Piloted Air System personnel are embedded with, or interact with the 732nd Operations Group Squadrons.

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total disposal cost of the Nimrod MRA4 airframes.

Philip Dunne: The Nimrod MRA4 airframes were dismantled on the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s behalf by Metal and Waste Recycling Ltd at a cost of around £500,000. As part of the contractual arrangements with the company, the MOD received receipts from the sale of the dismantled airframes to the value of just over £1 million.

Banks: Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received about the publication of personal and business lending data by postcode; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will require banks and their financial institutions to release further personal and business lending data by postcode; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will require banks to publish data on the number of new small business accounts in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will require the Prudential Regulation Authority to conduct an analysis of recently released personal and business lending data by postcode to examine (a) levels of disparity in lending and (b) progress in achieving financial inclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: In July 2013 the Government announced that it had reached an agreement with the major UK banks to publish lending data across 10,000 individual postcodes.
	The first dataset was published in December 2013 and shows the outstanding stock of lending that has been committed to customers across three categories: loans and overdrafts to SMEs, mortgages and unsecured personal loans (excluding credit cards).
	The data will allow challenger banks, smaller building societies, credit unions and community development finance institutions (CDFIs) to find areas where there is a lack of lending so they can offer finance to those customers who are crying out for support to help their business grow.

Cash Dispensing

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to improve access to free to use cash machines.

Andrea Leadsom: 95% of communities in the lowest quartile of the Government deprivation index now have free-to-use ATMs within their area or less than two thirds of a mile from the area’s centre. This has brought access to free-to-use ATMs to over 1.5 million people and progress towards covering even more communities continues.
	LINK has established a Financial Inclusion Programme to provide free-to-use ATMs where they are needed, by installing ATMs that are subsidised to make their operation commercially viable for operators. The cost of this subsidy is shared out among LINK member banks. 1,400 target areas now have access to an industry subsidised ATM through the programme.
	I am aware Toynbee Hall is due to complete research on this issue shortly.

Gold: Prices

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 29W, if he will make an assessment of the effect of US regulatory authorities' interventions in the gold market on gold market-related securities in ISAs.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government monitors developments in the gold market including, where relevant, regulatory action in other jurisdictions. The Government is committed to taking action, whenever necessary, to ensure the efficient functioning of these essential markets.

Personal Savings: Young People

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage young savers.

David Gauke: At the Budget it was announced that, from 1 July 2014, the limits for Junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) will rise from £3,720 to £4,000.
	Following a public consultation, the Government has decided to allow the transfer of savings from CTFs to Junior ISAs. We are committed to ensuring that there is a clear and simple way to save for all children and believe that parents should be allowed the opportunity to transfer from a CTF to a Junior ISA if they consider this to be the most appropriate account for their child.
	The Government has clauses in the Deregulation Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, which will enable the transfers. We hope this option to transfer will be available by April 2015.

Remittances

Angie Bray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made on enabling the continuation of money transfer abroad from UK financial institutions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with its Somali counterpart on ensuring that remittances can continue from UK financial institutions;
	(3)  when the action group on remittances will next meet to consider the issue of money transfer abroad.

Andrea Leadsom: The UK Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. The progress of the Action Group on Cross Border Remittances is on track and the group is next due to meet on 27 June 2014. Further information on the Action Group, including future meeting dates can be found on the group’s web page:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/enabling-the-continued-flow-of-remittances
	A key output of the group is improved guidance, both for financial institutions which provide banking facilities for MSBs and for MSBs themselves on how to comply with their anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism obligations. These two key pieces of guidance were endorsed by the Action Group in its most recent meeting and are subject to normal approval processes.
	The UK Government is liaising closely with the Somali Government on activity under way to ensure the continued flow of remittances from the UK to Somalia. The ambassador of Somalia to the UK (or his representative) has attended all of the Advisory Group Meetings for the UK-Somali Safer Corridor. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and World Bank have also held bilateral meetings with the ambassador.

Afghanistan

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on contracts for consultancy groups on the Bost Agri-Business Park and Airfield projects in Afghanistan in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.

Justine Greening: I refer the Hon. member to the answer that I gave to him on 5 March 2013, Official Report, column 967-68W.

Nigeria

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2014, Official Report, columns 549-50W, on Nigeria, whether her Department collects this data on a state-by-state basis.

Lynne Featherstone: The 2008 Demographic and Health Survey is conducted by the National Population Commission. The data requested are collected on a national basis rather than state by state.

Central African Republic

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken in response to the recent violence in the Central African Republic.

Mark Simmonds: The UK is working closely with international partners to ensure an effective and co-ordinated international response to the current humanitarian and security crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UK will continue to work with the AU and UN to ensure the effectiveness of the AU mission as well as the effective deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation. The UK has also provided airlifts to help with deployment of the EU security mission (EUFOR); has provided a planning officer to the Operational Headquarters; and is providing a share of EUFOR’s common costs as well as engaging with EU partners on EUFOR’s approach and rules of engagement. We remain the second largest provider of humanitarian aid, having given £23 million since the crisis began. I last discussed with interim President Catherine Samba-Panza on 23 May.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Egypt was in each of the last three years.

Hugh Robertson: According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), UK imports from Egypt were worth £1.36 billion in 2010, £1.41 billion in 2011 and £1.21 billion in 2012. Over the same period, UK exports to Egypt were worth £1.77 billion in 2010, £1.70 billion in 2011 and £1.59 billion in 2012. ONS figures from 2013 will be published in October 2014.

USA

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has made representations or had discussion or meetings with (a) the United States Select Intelligence Committee or (b) others on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.

Hugh Robertson: The British Government has an ongoing dialogue with the United States over its detention and interrogation programs. As part of engagement with the US Congress, our embassy in Washington has met with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to discuss its work, including in relation to the detention and interrogation program.

Western Sahara

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a statement cautioning UK businesses against investing in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara.

Hugh Robertson: The British Government advises companies considering investing in Western Sahara to obtain independent legal advice. We make companies aware that such investment raises complex and sensitive issues.
	We consider Morocco to be the de facto administering power of Western Sahara. We therefore consistently encourage Morocco to meet its commitments under Chapter XI, Article 73 of the UN Charter by ensuring that it acts to protect and further the interests of the people of the territory. This includes ensuring that the resources of the territory are used for the benefit of the people of the territory.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken for decisions on requests for reconsideration of fit for work decisions in relation to applications for employment and support allowance has been since October 2013.

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of mandatory reconsideration periods have exceeded 14 days; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Department is collecting information to understand how the introduction of mandatory reconsideration is operating, including completion timescales. However, this data is not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.
	In the production of new statistics, which all the above would be, the Department works to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet the high quality standards expected. Departmental statisticians need to assure themselves of the quality of administrative data sources before releasing information as official statistics, and before the exact timing and format of statistics can be confirmed.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for replies to be sent to the hon. Member for Walsall North to his letters to (a) the Chief Operating Officer, Pension, Disability and Carers Service of 7 April and 7 May; and if he will arrange for a substantive reply to be sent to that hon. Member to his letter to the Chief Executive, Capita-PIP ref PIP100 34851/101 of 7 April 2014 on behalf of a constituent.

Michael Penning: A reply to all of the issues that you raised in both of your letters will be sent to you by one of our directors by 13 June 2014.

Personal Independence Payment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who have submitted a claim for personal independence payment and have been waiting for more than six months for a medical assessment in (a) the UK, (b) London and (c) the London Borough of Harrow; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people in each (a) region of England and (b) London borough had been waiting six months or longer for a medical examination as part of their assessment of entitlement to a personal independence payment on 1 May 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: We are committed to ensuring personal independence payment (PIP) claimants receive high quality, objective, fair and accurate assessments. Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April 2013, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process.
	As personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit, processes are currently bedding in. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claimant journey is taking longer than expected. We are working closely with the assessment providers to ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to improve performance, speed up the process and ensure claimants receive a satisfactory experience. We are also seeking to ensure that all the steps in the process run as smoothly as possible and that there are no barriers in our processes and systems that contribute to claims taking longer than necessary to progress.
	The first official statistics for the number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was published on 5 June alongside updated statistics on PIP new claim registrations, decisions and awards.
	Statistics on clearance times are not being published at this stage. Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication but releasing them at this stage would give a skewed representation of the process since steady state has not yet been reached and natural reassessment has yet to roll out across the country.

Personal Independence Payment

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of applicants who have faced delays to their personal independence payment claim because of partial PA4 IT failures in the past 12 months.

Michael Penning: The requested data is not held by the Department.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households have been subject to the benefit cap in (a) each parliamentary constituency and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Esther McVey: Information on the number of households subject to the benefit cap in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland have not yet been published as Official Statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Information on the number of households subject to the benefit cap in each local authority in Scotland has been published and is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-march-2014

Ambulance Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on its emergency ambulance cover;
	(2)  for Health what assessment he has made of the quality of emergency ambulance cover in the North West;
	(3)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on its ability to meet emergency 999 calls in the Greater Manchester area.

Jane Ellison: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on these matters. Decisions about ambulance services are a local matter and it is for clinical commissioning groups to ensure appropriate services are provided to their populations.
	Patients have a right to high quality and reliable urgent and emergency care, whenever they call on it, and we expect all ambulance trusts to provide this.
	The North West Ambulance Service met the three ambulance performance standards for 2013-14 and in April 2014.

Asthma

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the National Review of Asthma Deaths, published on 6 May 2014.

Jane Ellison: We welcome the report of the UK National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) which provides a wealth of information about the causes of mortality from asthma.
	While deaths rates from asthma have fallen steadily over the past three decades, and the number of deaths are small compared with those from cancer and heart disease, we are concerned about the proportion of deaths in children and young people that, in theory, could be preventable.
	Patients (including children and young people) should be reviewed regularly and have personal action plans in place. They and their families or carers should know the right medications to use at the right times and how to use them, and to understand the importance of monitoring their condition and how to do this. NHS England has a programme of work in place through a “house of care” model to help ensure that patients with long term conditions such as asthma, can largely self-manage their condition with appropriate support from health care professionals.

Carers

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve support for carers.

Norman Lamb: Carers are central to the Government’s reform of social care and support, with significant improvements in the Care Act which extends carers’ rights to an assessment which will be based on the appearance of a need for support. For the first time, local authorities will be required to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.
	We have provided £400 million to the national health service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. For 2015-16, the carers’ breaks funding will be in the Better Care Fund.
	We have also provided more than £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Nursing, Carers UK and the Carers Trust to develop initiatives to raise early awareness of carers among health care professionals and to help identify and support carers. We have committed more than £1 million in 2014–15 to enable these organisations to build on this work and to develop new initiatives.
	We set out our vision for transforming primary care in ‘Transforming Primary Care: Safe, proactive, personalised care for those who need it most’. It recognises the importance of involving and supporting carers and sets out a clear expectation for general practitioners to identify carers as a matter of course.
	Carers are also central to the work that NHS England is leading to improve the quality of life of people with long term conditions. Their action plan, ‘NHS England’s Commitment to Carers’ includes a series of commitments around eight priorities, including raising the profile of carers.

Health Professions

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology his Department uses to calculate workforce requirements for (a) community physiotherapists, (b) podiatrists and (c) occupational health therapists; and what future projection he has made of staffing levels in such professions.

Daniel Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) was established to ensure a greater connection between the needs and demands of local employers and education and training commissions. HEE holds information contributing to, and are responsible for, the secure supply of the England NHS funded workforce.

Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of women who are receiving IVF treatment who have been diagnosed with hypothelamic amenorrhea.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Health and Social Care Information Centre takes to ensure that all its registers are complete and can be easily cross-referenced.

Daniel Poulter: As part of continuous improvement, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will continue to review the completeness of all the registers that are being released. The HSCIC has committed to publishing details of all approved data releases including the purpose for which data was released, on a quarterly basis and continue to welcome scrutiny of these registers and feedback and will ensure that any genuine omissions are incorporated within these updates.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 330W, on medical records: data protection, for what reason the Health and Social Care Information Centre's register of approved data releases does not contain entries on the Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG) register of approved applications for (a) Department of Health Dental and Eye Care Analytical Team DAAG application reference 240413-a, (b) HCV Research UK DAAG application reference MR1316, (c) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust section 251 notification DAAG application reference MR1320 and (d) UK Biobank DAAG application reference MR1109.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) register as published on 3 April 2014 only covers data releases approved and data released by the HSCIC within the period 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013.
	The applications the hon. Member refers to have been approved by the Data Access Advisory Group's (DAAG) but are not included on the HSCIC Register of Approved data releases as they are not within the scope outlined for the following reasons:
	(a) Department of Health Dental and Eye Care Analytical Team DAAG application reference 240413-a, this request was for additional access for an individual field by Department of Health through the Business Objects online system, access to which was approved prior to 1 April 2014. This means of access has subsequently been replaced, and the Department’s access to the new system is covered by row id 373 in the approved release register;
	(b) HCV Research UK DAAG application reference MR1316—the release of data to this customer has not yet been approved by the HSCIC;
	(c) Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust section 251 notification DAAG application reference MR1320—the applicant has received no data from the HSCIC within the time period; and
	(d) UK Biobank DAAG application reference MR1109—this was approved prior to 1 April 2013.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which mental health services he and each Minister in his Department have visited since they were appointed; and what the date of each such visit was.

Daniel Poulter: The following list provides details of the visits undertaken by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) and his ministerial team to mental health services in an official capacity, since their appointment.
	Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt):
	6 February 2014
	Redwoods Centre, South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust
	13 March 2014
	Springfield Hospital, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
	1 May 2014
	East London NHS Foundation Trust
	Minister of State for Care and Support (Norman Lamb):
	13 November 2012
	Raid Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
	19 December 2012
	South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Trust
	7 February 2013
	The Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme and Child and Adolescent, Mental Health services project, Oxford
	4 July 2013
	Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
	19 August 2013
	Leicester Mental Health Triage Care Project
	5 September 2013
	Gnosall Surgery, Stafford
	12 September 2013
	Yeovil Hospital
	12 September 2013
	Royal United Hospital, Bath
	31 October 2013
	Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
	19 December 2013
	Broadmoor Hospital
	3 January 2014
	Bethnal Green Police Station (Bi-lateral visit with Damian Green MP Home Office), London (A Liaison and Diversion scheme, this scheme brings together three large mental health trusts)
	17 February 2014
	Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Crisis Resolution Service
	12 March 2014
	Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, Manchester
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter):
	11 July 2013
	Disraeli School and Children’s Centre, High Wycombe
	17 October 2013
	Parkview Clinic, Birmingham Children's Hospital
	8 May 2014
	Bethlem Royal Hospital—Channi Kumar Mother and Baby Unit (Perinatal mental health)
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (Earl Howe):
	18 April 2012
	BuddyApp—Mental health innovation product launch—Maudsley Hospital
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison):
	15 April 2014
	Roshni Ghar Mental Health Charity, Keighley.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS England's review of Tier 4 Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services provision will be complete.

Norman Lamb: This mapping exercise looking at Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health services has been completed. NHS England is now formulating an implementation plan and is preparing to publish a report of the exercise along with the implementation plan as soon as possible via the governance processes of NHS England.
	The implementation will proceed via two distinct phases recognising that there are urgent actions which need to be taken to improve access and to reduce long distance referrals. The second phase will focus on the more medium-term actions required. The implementation plan when finalised, will be clear about the timescales.

Pregnant Women: Alcoholic Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government-funded education and support on alcohol consumption during pregnancy is available to pregnant women.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s 2008 guideline includes recommendations for doctors and midwives on the advice they should give to pregnant women about drinking alcohol.
	This advice is complemented by Government funded information provided through the Start4Life Information Service for Parents, Start4Life and NHS Choices websites.
	The Government funds the Start4Life Information Service for Parents service, which provides pregnant women/new mothers and their partners with comprehensive advice on staying healthy in pregnancy, preparing for birth and looking after their baby, and includes advice on risks of drinking before conception and during pregnancy.
	The Information Service for Parents is a digital service which provides national health service and other quality assured advice, including on alcohol consumption via regular text and e-mail updates. Since launching on 18 May 2012, 339,277 new parents have signed up to the service (as of 1 June 2014).
	The Government is also committed to improving the labelling of alcoholic drinks, including a warning for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.
	As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers have a responsibility to help raise this awareness and committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. An independent market survey is under way to measure compliance.

Public Health England

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who used to work in his Department have taken up jobs at Public Health England; and what their job titles and salary levels (a) were at his Department and (b) are at Public Health England.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) was established as an Executive Agency of the Department of Health on 1 April 2013. 184 staff from the Department were transferred to PHE as part of a planned transfer of functions. Their terms and conditions of employment, job titles and salary levels all remained the same.
	PHE has since appointed 21 staff formerly employed by the Department as set out below. These appointments were made following competitive selection procedures carried out in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.
	
		
			 PHE job title1 PHE salary level Change (if any) 
			 Head of Engagement Grade 6 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Programmes Manager SEO (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director of Strategy SCS1  
			 Integration Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Head of Operations and Corporate Management Grade 6 (Inner London)  
			 Healthy Adults Coordinator Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Tobacco Control Programme Manager Grade 7 (National) Pay reduction 
			 Head of One to One Marketing Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director—International Commercial Healthcare Policy SCS1  
			 Programmes and Policy Manager Grade 7 (National)  
			 Business Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Strategy Unit Team Member Grade 7 (National) Promotion 
			 Head of Planning Grade 6 ((Inner London)  
			 Integration and Engagement Manager Grade 7 (National) Promotion 
			 Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships SCS1 Promotion 
			 Strategic Partnership Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Engagement and Policy Manager Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Expert Adviser—Behavioural Insight Grade 6 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Senior Nutrition Science Officer SEO (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Head of Communications Drugs and Alcohol Grade 7 (Inner London) Promotion 
			 Senior Alcohol Policy Adviser HEO (Inner London)  
			 1 Previous Department of Health job title not available. 
		
	
	PHE’s salary levels were published in November 2012 in the Public Health England People Transition Policy Module 2 Module 2 and can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213175/single-combined-document.pdf
	Senior civil service salary levels are set centrally by the Cabinet Office. The range for SCS1 is £60,000 to £117,800.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 132W, on radiotherapy, and with reference to section 3 of the guidance issued by Monitor on the Commissioning of Radiosurgery Services on 4 April 2014, 
	(1)  for what reasons NHS England is not funding patients to be treated with the gamma knife at University College Hospital London;
	(2)  with reference to section 3 of the guidance issued by Monitor on the Commissioning of Radiosurgery Services on 4 April 2014, if he will require NHS England to publish the evidence on which it based its decision not to allow patients to be treated with the gamma knife at University College Hospital London.

Jane Ellison: Section 3 of Monitor’s substantive guidance on ‘The National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013’ provides guidance to commissioners on publishing new contract opportunities for national health service health care services.
	On page 42 of the guidance, it states that:
	"a commissioner may decide to carry out a detailed review of the provision of particular services (for example, A&E services) in its local area in order to understand how those services can be improved in the interests of patients. The review may involve extensive public consultation and engagement with existing and potential providers and other stakeholders. Reviewing available services and providers in this way is good commissioning practice and something that commissioners should consider doing as a matter of course."
	In its role as commissioner, NHS England is currently undertaking such a review of stereotactic radiosurgery services. This will inform procurement decisions for these services.
	University College London Hospitals is not contracted by NHS England, nor was it contracted by former primary care trusts, to provide Gamma Knife services. It is for this reason that NHS patients cannot normally be treated at this facility. Instead, NHS patients requiring Gamma Knife treatment should be treated by the Gamma Knife services commissioned by the NHS, that have been shown to meet NHS England service specifications. These can be accessed by patients in London without a waiting time, fully maintaining the continuity of their care and normally with the same consultant and clinical team.
	Until the capacity requirements are made clear as part of the review being undertaken, NHS England has said that it would be inappropriate to encourage new market entrants to provide this service as it cannot be clear what the potential consequential impacts on service quality, sustainability (financial and clinical) and potential unintended changes to patient pathways will be. Until the review is complete NHS England has said no substantive changes will be made to the current provision.